Thanks to contributions from four local families, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville has been able to lease 207 acres to support the start of its Farm and Ranch Management (FARM) program.
The Barnett, Grace, Hathcock, and Ketz families have consented to lease the land to UACCB at no expense, enabling the college to increase the range of agricultural education programs it offers, according to a press release from the college. According to the announcement, the deal allows UACCB to create new educational possibilities while preserving the land’s agricultural legacy.
UACCB Chancellor Dr. Brian Shonk expressed his gratitude to the Barnett, Grace, Hathcock, and Ketz families, saying, “We are honored that they chose us to preserve their family’s heritage related to this property.” Watching upcoming generations of farmers and ranchers work and gain knowledge on this portion of the FARM at UACCB excites me.
The property, which includes a historic farmhouse that was moved to the location in 1943 and was first constructed around 1840, will be maintained by UACCB as part of the leasing arrangement. According to UACCB’s statement, the stewardship agreement demonstrates the college’s dedication to conserving the agricultural heritage of the area and the site.
The FARM program’s cattle management component will be centered on the leased farm, giving students practical experience. In order to accommodate additional program facilities, UACCB is also renovating the front part of a building located at 2210 E. Main St.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and Workforce Connections awarded the college a $5 million HIRED grant in November 2024 to assist the FARM program, which focuses on precision agriculture. The more than 100,000-square-foot structure, now known as the Gateway Center, is being renovated with a large amount of the grant money.
With the crop management component of the curriculum based on the site’s 55 acres, the Gateway Center will include offices, classrooms, and lab facilities for the FARM program and other initiatives. The project is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2025.
Classes for community education FARM are expected to start in the spring of 2026, and in August of the same year, an undergraduate associate degree program will be launched.
To learn more about the FARM program, send an email to [email protected].
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